What they didn’t know was they were forming a formidable guard duo when they signed Tony Wroten to be his backup.

“I think the combination of (Cater-Williams) and Tony is great (for our team),” said Sixers forward Thaddeus Young. “We have Tony, when he comes into the game he’s really good at getting to the basket and when Mike comes in he’s really good at keeping everybody in synch with what we have to do and keeps a great pace.”

Carter-Williams has been a sparkplug all season for the Sixers, as they are 12-15 in games in which he plays – they’re just 1-10 when he doesn’t. They score 5.9 more points per game when Carter-Williams is on the floor, but it isn’t Wroten’s fault for the drop-off when the rookie sits out.

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Wroten has scored 18.4 points per game when Carter-Williams is out. But he isn’t only doing it when he’s alone, as he has scored in double-figures 22 times this season including topping 20 points eight times.

IN BUNCHES: Young has been putting up a lot of high-point totals recently, and he’s doing so at a pace he’s never done before in the NBA.

He has scored at least 20 points in eight of the last 12 games heading into play against the Miami Heat on Friday night. Last season, he only reached that point total 12 times.

In consecutive games in Milwaukee and Phoenix at the end of December, Young scored over 30 points. That total matched the number of times that Young had reached 30 points in the first 461 games of his career.

And the answer behind the scoring surge is simple.

“It’s just been spacing on the floor,” Young said. “My teammates have been helping me get in scoring position and I think that’s been the biggest thing.”

Over the last 23 games, Young is averaging 19.3 points per game.

GETTING CLOSER?: Sixers President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Sam Hinkie released a statement earlier in the week giving an update on the status of rookie center Nerlens Noel.

“After careful consideration and numerous discussions with our medical and performance teams, the consulting physician and rehabilitation staff and Nerlens’ representatives, some of the restrictions on Nerlens have been lifted and he is now able to participate in limited on-court work,” Hinkie said in the statement.

No official return date was given, but it did open the door for the possibility that Noel will see the floor this season.

LOCAL GUEST OF HONOR: Millville’s own and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim outfielder Mike Trout was in attendance for Friday’s game against the Heat. The local star had pretty good seats, sitting in the front row right behind the basket.